88164 - PHYSIOLOGY APPLIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT: POLLUTANT IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM

Learning outcomes

The course will focus on the environmental strategies adoptable to assess the potential impacts of pollution on the marine coasts, also addressing emerging pollutants and new conditions generated by global change, and the interactions between the marine environment and human health. The students will learn about: main contaminants and source of discharge; impacts on animal health status and threats to human health; principles of the environmental quality assessment, using biological methods. Through the analysis of case studies and guidelines, the course will also provide knowledge on integrated monitoring plans applied at the national and international levels. Skills will be developed in the definition of bioassessment strategies and application of statistical methods for result interpretation.

Course contents

Principles of organism-environment interaction; emerging contaminants (endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, plastics); main effects of contaminants on marine organisms. Action mechanisms at different levels of biological complexity; effects and action mechanisms of endocrine disruptors; contaminant effects on main physiological functions. The biomarkers as early warnings of environmental quality alteration. Toxicity tests as tools for chemical risk assessment and for biomonitoring. In situ biological assemblages as indicators of ecosystem integrity. Weight of evidence approaches, integration of different lines of evidence. Environmental biomonitoring according to international guidelines. All topics will be illustrated through the analysis of case studies.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested readings, Scientific papers

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons and discussion of scientific papers

Assessment methods

The final examination wants to evaluate that students met the teaching objectives: organism-environment interaction; environmental contamination; main effects of contaminants on humans and wildlife; action mechanisms at different levels of biological complexity; effects of endocrine disruptors; contaminant effects on main physiological functions. The exam (written) deals with 2 - 3 specific questions on different topics to be answered in a pertinent and synthetic manner.

Teaching tools

Power point slides, suggested readings

Office hours

See the website of Elena Fabbri

See the website of Andrea Pasteris